MD/PhD- Apply?

[MedicineForLife]

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(cross posted this on the Premedical forum and clarified some points; realized posting this in this forum will be more helpful and appropriate)

I really want to do and love research but not sure if I have what it takes to apply. Some information about me:
-GPA: 3.6 from JHU, took all classes here (did well in all my prereqs); had a dip in grades one year due to a medical condition
-Graduted early last semester with two majors (one in a Bio sci and another in a humanities)
-2.5 years of research (two different labs), one poster presentation but no pubs
-Two leadership positions
- A lot of clinical experience
-Planning on submitting three very strong letters of recommendation, which will all be from people I've known each writer since freshman year.
- planning to retake the MCAT (I got an offer to apply to UIllinois MD/PhD program after my first, but I really want to do better)

 

[Neuronix]

How low is your MCAT? Your GPA isn't bad. I'd like to see MCAT above 34 to have a good chance, but as always the higher the better.

As always I'm going off my own guide: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=539268

4) So what about my MDApplicants profile?

What are the general guidelines for success that we moderators are thinking about?

GPA -- Excellent 3.8+, Ok 3.6+
MCAT -- Excellent 36+, Ok 34+
Research Experience -- Excellent 4+ years, Ok 2+

If you fulfill all the ok categories but no excellent categories you are a borderline applicant in general. If you have all the excellent categories, you will likely get in, again as a rule of thumb. So if you have two oks and an excellent in one category? You're looking better.

Can you be below the ok level in one of these and still get in? It depends on just how far off you are. It will help tremendously if you have excellents in the others.

 

[dl2dp2]

Slightly off topic, but I'm looking at these stats and I'm just...shocked. I wonder how well (or rather, poorly) I'd do if I applied today. I was in that group of applicants who got multiple MSTP offers, but suffice to say, i'm DEFINITELY below average compared to today's applicants of the same group on paper. 😱

 

[Shifty B]

- planning to retake the MCAT (I got an offer to apply to UIllinois MD/PhD program after my first, but I really want to do better)

What does this mean exactly? Are you saying that you applied in the past, got into places, and then decided not to go because you wanted to reapply to "higher ranked" places?

 

[achamess]

What does this mean exactly? Are you saying that you applied in the past, got into places, and then decided not to go because you wanted to reapply to "higher ranked" places?

I think the OP means that, based on his MCAT score, which the AAMC releases to some schools if you give permission, contacted him encouraging him to apply to their MSTP. I got a similar email this year from U of Alabama MSTP.

 

[Freak]

Email ... I got those nice printed brochures back in the day 🙂

 

[Neuronix]

Email ... I got those nice printed brochures back in the day 🙂

Yeah me too. WashU sent me a bunch of stuff and then didn't even interview me 😕 The moral of that story is not to trust those invite you to apply emails.

Though we still have no idea what the op's MCAT score actually is. It might be fine for all we know.

 

[Shifty B]

Yeah me too. WashU sent me a bunch of stuff and then didn't even interview me 😕 The moral of that story is not to trust those invite you to apply emails.

Though we still have no idea what the op's MCAT score actually is. It might be fine for all we know.

Oh, now I see. He got an "offer to apply". When I read that the first time I only saw "offer". Those mean totally different things.

On that note, I'll give you an offer to apply for CEO of Toyota right now, regardless of your MCAT score. That guy's in some deep water!